The SMM continued monitoring the ceasefire, which entered into force at 00:00hrs on 15 February. In the Luhansk region, the SMM observed a limited number of ceasefire violations. In Donetsk city the SMM heard intense outgoing shelling throughout the reporting period.

LUHANSK REGION

(Observations cover the period 10:00hrs to 18:00hrs on 19 February)

On 19 February at a location 10km north of Shchastia (24km north of Luhansk, government-controlled) the SMM heard 28 outgoing Grad launches, 40 outgoing artillery shelling, and at least three to four bursts of heavy machine gun fire (each burst at least 8-10 rounds) originating from a location 10km to the south-west, lasting from 10:15 until 10:33hrs.

On 19 February the SMM visited villages in the vicinity of Novoaidar (60km north of Luhansk, government-controlled) on Route 1306. From this location, the SMM heard sporadic (2-4) outgoing shelling originating 5-10km to the south-west of its location. The direction of the shelling was towards the south-west. No impacts were heard.

Between 12:55 and 13:15hrs, from the area of Irmino (65km west of Luhansk “LPR”-controlled) the SMM heard 23 rounds of outgoing shelling.

DONETSK REGION

(Observations cover the period from 18:00hrs on 18 February to 18:00hrs on 19 February)

Donetsk city

At 18:35hrs, on 18 February, the SMM heard six distant explosions, consistent with outgoing Multiple Launch Rockets System (MLRS) rounds. The sounds came from 5-10km to the north-west of the Tekstilshchik micro-district of Donetsk (11km south-west of Donetsk city centre).

From 21:30 to 22:12hrs, on 18 February, the SMM heard distant explosions, consistent with outgoing artillery rounds. They were intermingled by sounds consistent with small arms and light weapons (SALW) fire. The sounds came from 5-10km to the north of the Tekstilshchik micro-district of Donetsk (11km south-west of Donetsk city centre).

At 08:43hrs, on 19 February, the SMM heard powerful explosions, consistent with outgoing artillery rounds fired from the area to the north or north-west of the central part of Donetsk. The SMM was unable to determine the exact distance to the epicenter of the explosions. The SMM counted up to eight outgoing rounds.

At 10:46hrs, on 19 February, the SMM heard explosions, consistent with outgoing artillery rounds presumably fired from the area close to the city centre to the west from the Donetsk Patrol Hub. The SMM could not determine the distance to the epicentre of the explosions. The SMM counted four explosions.

At 11:36hrs, on 19 February, the SMM heard powerful explosions, consistent with outgoing artillery rounds. The SMM could not determine the distance to the epicentre of the explosions but presumed the rounds were fired from the area close to the city centre to the west from the Donetsk Patrol Hub. The SMM counted 11 explosions.

At 11:44hrs, on 19 February, in Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard powerful explosions, consistent with outgoing artillery rounds. The sounds of outgoing artillery fire came at intervals of 15 to 20 seconds and were intermingled with sounds, consistent with SALW fire and one MLRS launch (at 13:25hrs). The SMM could not determine the exact distance to the epicentre of the explosions but presumes the rounds were fired from 5-10km to the north and north-west of Donetsk city centre.

Between 13.00hrs and 19.00hrs, from Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard the sound of outgoing artillery shelling in a north-north-western direction.

Outside Donetsk city

On 19 February while in Mospyne (12km south-east of Donetsk city) at 10:20hrs the SMM heard three explosions very far away.

On 19 February, while stationary in Makiivka at 08.30hrs (16km east of Donetsk, “DPR”-controlled), the SMM heard two separate salvos of MLRS outgoing from a northerly direction for approximately two minutes. At the same location, at 11.30hrs, the SMM heard a salvo of outgoing MLRS for a very short period of time, but it could not determine the direction and distance from where it was fired.

At 11:15hrs, near the village of Krasnohorivka (22km north of Donetsk, government-controlled), the SMM heard the sound of incoming mortars followed by outgoing mortar fire. The incoming rounds originated from the south-east, presumably from the environs of Makiivka (14km north-north-east of Donetsk, “DPR”-controlled).

While in Yunokomarovsk (45km north-east of Donetsk, “DPR”-controlled) at 10:00hrs the SMM heard explosions from an unknown weapon coming from north-north-west to north-east for approximately 40 minutes.

Subscribe to OSCE

Sign up to receive OSCE Press Releases and Media Advisories by email as soon as they have been published.